ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman was sent into the elimination bracket of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament with an 8-1 loss to Savannah State Thursday night at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. 

The Wildcats (18-34) will meet Delaware State at 10 a.m. If B-CU wins that game, the Wildcats will play again at 3 p.m. against the winner of the Florida A&M – Norfolk State. In all, B-CU will need to win five games to take their fourth consecutive MEAC championship.

Savannah State (26-22) got a three-hitter from Madison Hedderly, who aided her own cause with a two-run single in a three-run  sixth inning.

Calesha Shelley scored B-CU's lone run in the sixth on a Simone Ceasar single.  Shamaria Engram and Sophia Ortega registered the other two Wildcat hits.

B-CU 8, COPPIN STATE 0

Bethune-Cookman used a seven-run third inning and a two-hit Shanel Tolbert shutout to run-rule Coppin State in the opening round Thursday morning. 

After two scoreless innings, B-CU broke the game open in the third as its first six batters registered a hit, including a two-run Michelle Banuelos-Smith double and RBI singles from Kelsey Rodney and Engram. Shelley and Aurelia Gamch drew bases-loaded walks and Wanda Darby scored on a passed ball to round out the scoring.

B-CU ended the game in the fifth when Shelley led off with a single and scored on a throwing error on Ceasar's bunt.

Ceasar and Engram each had two hits for the Wildcats, who saw all nine batters reach base at least once.

Tolbert posted her second shutout of the season, walking none and striking out four.